title: IgM antibody to hepatitis B core antigen as a diagnostic parameter of acute infection with hepatitis B virus.
abstract: Because many patients with acute hepatitis B lack detectable hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg), a radioimmunoassay for IgM antibody to hepatitis B core antigen (anti-HBc) was developed and evaluated as a diagnostic test. IgM anti-HBc was detected in each of 47 patients with acute hepatitis and transient HBsAg (geometric mean titer, greater than or equal to 1:191,000), but also in five of 12 HBsAg carriers (geometric mean titer, 1:459) and one of 46 healthy individuals positive for anti-HBc. However, it was not present in one patient during the first six months of a persistent infection. Of 255 patients with acute hepatitis and HBsAg and/or anti-HBc, 210 were HBsAg-positive whereas 230 had IgM anti-HBc. The latter was the only specific marker in 12.3% of all cases of acute hepatitis B. Thus, IgM anti-HBc is a valuable marker for the diagnosis of acute infection with hepatitis B virus.
mesh_terms: D000208:Acute Disease; D000818:Animals; D000914:Antibodies, Viral / Q000096:biosynthesis; D000954:Antigens, Surface; D001172:Arthritis, Rheumatoid / Q000276:immunology; D002353:Carrier State / Q000276:immunology; D006506:Hepatitis A / Q000276:immunology; D006509:Hepatitis B / Q000175:diagnosis*; D006512:Hepatitis B Core Antigens / Q000276:immunology*; D006514:Hepatitis B Surface Antigens / Q000276:immunology; D006526:Hepatitis C / Q000276:immunology; D007106:Immune Sera / Q000494:pharmacology; D007075:Immunoglobulin M / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D002679:Pan troglodytes; D011863:Radioimmunoassay
chemical_list: D000914:Antibodies, Viral; D000954:Antigens, Surface; D006512:Hepatitis B Core Antigens; D006514:Hepatitis B Surface Antigens; D007106:Immune Sera; D007075:Immunoglobulin M